DOH advocates use of traditional health care

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Health is pushing  integration of traditional and alternative health care in the country’s health with modern medicine and health care.

Nurse Teresita Foman-eg of the DOH regional office, in a recent media forum, said there were now 10 herbal medicines that DOH, through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, approved for public use as   research studies  have proven  their  therapeutic claim.

The DOH herbal medicine list includes: Acapulco, Ampalaya (bitter gourd), Bayabas (Guava), Lagundi (5-leave chaste tree), Ulasimingbato/pansitpansitan (indigenous to the Phl, no English name), Sambong, Tsaanggubat (wild tea), Yerba Buena (Peppermint), bawang (Garlic) and niyog-niyogan (Chinese Honey Suckle).  She also bared that Tawa-tawa (Euphorbia Hita) and Guyabano (Soursop).

Though there are many more indigenous plants and herbs that are said to have medicinal value, Foman-egsaid, advising the public to be careful in using herbs as medicines.

Like any drug or medicine, it should not be taken unless it is prescribed, she said.

She encouraged those who know or believe that a certain herb or plant has  therapeutic claim to submit it for documentation and study at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Another traditional health care practice the DOH is advocating is acupuncture.

According to Foman-eg, there are now 17  trained acupuncturists in the region  including the well-known acupuncturists Dr. Charles Cheng of the Baguio Chinese Hospital and Dr. Manuel Quirino of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

As for massage therapy, another traditional and alternative health care, Foman-eg disclosed that DOH, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is now pushing documentation and licensing of massage therapy clinics and masseurs in the region.

Aside from being mandated by law, documentation and licensing of massage clinics and parlors as well as massage therapy practitioners will be beneficial to  providers of  alternative health care practice and their customers, Foman-eg said.

Among the health care advocacies of the DOH this November is the observance of Traditional and Alternative Health Care Month.